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APDA Post-Doctoral Research Fellowships

American Parkinson Disease Association

Letter of Intent open: Nov 28, 2025

Letter of Intent due: Jan 30, 2026

Invitation for full application: March 20, 2026

Full Application due: June 5, 2026

Award details

Two-year fellowship up to a maximum of $75,000 per year will be awarded to post-doctoral (MD, MD/PhD, or PhD) research trainees.

The applicants will receive notification of the decision in October 2026. The APDA grant year runs from January 1, 2027, to December 31, 2028.

Goal

APDA Post-doc fellowships are intended to support post-doctoral trainees at U.S. research institutions whose research training focuses on new insights into the pathophysiology, etiology, and/or treatment of Parkinson’s disease. Proposals can address research questions anywhere along the pipeline from basic science to rehabilitation-focused projects.

AI Based Application Success Predictor

1️⃣ Clear, Central Parkinson’s Disease Focus

Projects must directly contribute to:

Disease mechanisms relevant to PD

Motor & non-motor symptoms (sleep, cognition, mood, autonomic issues)

Movement-disorder therapeutics and outcomes

Biomarker development (imaging, biofluids, wearable tech)

Access to PD care or support

🛑 Vague neuroscience unrelated to PD = low score.

2️⃣ Strong Translational or Clinical Relevance

APDA wants impactful advances for people living with PD:

Improved diagnosis, earlier detection

Better symptom management / reduced disability

Novel therapeutics targeting disease modification

Real-world functional gains, caregiver support, health equity

“How will this help PD patients in the near-future?” is the silent killer question.

3️⃣ Feasible Pilot-Scale Design (1–2 Strong Aims)

Common features of funded studies:

12–24 month timeline

Small, focused scope

Rapid generation of publishable data

Clear milestones

Overly ambitious = reviewer skepticism.

4️⃣ Early-Career Momentum + Strong Mentorship (if applicable)

For fellowships / junior awards:

Well-aligned PD mentor with track record

Protected time for research

Institutional commitment letter

Evidence of potential: early pubs, posters, movement disorders training

APDA likes backing rising stars.

5️⃣ Solid Rationale + Preliminary Data (If Beyond Exploratory)

Pilot data showing feasibility

Biological / mechanistic justification for the therapeutic model

Early effect signal or technical capability evidence

No “fishing expeditions” — hypothesis-driven is best.

6️⃣ Real Plan for Follow-on Funding

APDA is a launch pad organization.

Strong proposals explicitly state:

How pilot data → NIH (R21/R01/K award), DoD, MJF Foundation, etc.

Competitive positioning vs. existing PD trials or innovations

Future trajectory = strategic value.

7️⃣ Patient-Centered Outcomes + DEI/Access Considerations

Increasing reviewer emphasis on:

Underserved populations (rural, minority, low-income)

Caregiver burden reduction

Telehealth, community-based care programs

Digital monitoring for home-based PD management

Broad real-world benefit = stronger mission alignment.

🚫 Common Reasons Proposals Fail

Pitfall	Problem
PD mentioned but not central to aims	Lacks mission alignment
Too large / complicated for budget	Low feasibility
Weak mentorship (junior applicants)	Execution risk
No pathway to clinical impact	Reviewer “so what?” reaction
Poor statistical design / vague methods	Rigor concerns
No clear next funding step	Limited ROI

🎯 APDA Proposal Success Checklist

✔ Central PD mechanism or patient-impact focus
✔ 1–2 tight aims, feasible in 1–2 years
✔ Innovation that matters to patient care
✔ Preliminary data or compelling logic
✔ Strong mentorship & protected time (if early-career)
✔ Plan for publications + future grants
✔ Clear, polished writing + appropriate statistics
✔ Meaningful patient outcomes & health equity consideration

Specialties

Neurosciences

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must have completed their MD, PhD, MD/PhD or clinical residency program within two (2) years of the onset of the proposed award.

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: American Parkinson Disease Association

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: PO Box 61420 Staten Island, NY 10306

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